Bittersweet, A Story of Food & Yemen

About the book

A captivating exploration of Yemen’s rich culinary heritage. Authored by Bangladeshi photographer, Sayed Asif Mahmud, with contributions from Marta Colburn and Jessica Olney, this visually stunning book takes the readers on a soulful discovery of how food is intricately woven into the fabric of Yemeni identity, portraying everyday practices, cooking techniques, and livelihoods against the backdrop of Yemen’s unique landscapes, architecture and heart-warming gatherings.

Through evocative photographs and meticulous research, the book delves into the origins, development and transformations of Yemeni culinary traditions. It explores the cultural significance of food in Yemen’s history, touching on factors like agriculture, trade, and identity, bringing the unique cuisine of Yemen alive for specialists, food enthusiasts and those invited to appreciate the dignity and perseverance of the Yemeni people and support them through a spirit of solidarity and respect.

Bittersweet, A Story of Food and Yemen has been produced in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP). Part of the profits from sales will be donated to the “Share The Meal” association, which works to end world hunger. In addition to being supported by the World Food Programme, the book is a collaborative project between 4 publishing houses across the globe. Fall Line Press is representing the project throughout North America, Masa is covering Turkey, Medina Publishing is covering the UK, Middle East and Asia, while Caurette is offering a French translated edition for the EU.

The preface was written by Tim Mackintosh-Smith, a British expert on the Arabic-speaking world, who has written numerous books on the subject including, in 2019, Arabs: A 3,000-Year History of Peoples, Tribes and Empires.